Officials reported a tragic incident on Tuesday as a military helicopter crashed near the Kenya-Somalia border, resulting in the loss of at least eight lives. The cause of the crash in Lamu County, situated along the coastal region of Kenya, remains unclear. The region is strategically monitored by Kenyan defense forces to deter the al-Qaida-affiliated group, al-Shabab, which operates across the border in Somalia.
The Department of Defense (DoD) confirmed that the Air Force helicopter was on a night patrol when the crash occurred. In response, a Board of Inquiry has been promptly dispatched to the crash site to investigate the circumstances leading to the tragedy, according to a statement released by the DoD. While security agents, speaking anonymously due to lack of authorization, informed The Associated Press that all military personnel and crew members onboard the helicopter had perished, the DoD statement did not disclose the exact number of casualties.
Kenyan troops have been actively involved in the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia, supporting efforts to combat al-Shabab. However, plans are underway to withdraw the multinational forces as Somali troops gradually assume responsibility for their nation’s security. Al-Shabab has escalated its attacks in Kenya in recent months, particularly in the border region, as it faces increased pressure from a military offensive launched by Somali forces last year after the election of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in May.
